That you find the choices I've made,
To accept, reject or attempt to resist...
And the ones I chose appalling?
Remember this...
My choices in life to make 'and' made,
Were real and not faked...
To later afford me an exit to escape.

And if they should appall you,
There is no need for you to persist...
As if to insist.
Why continue to announce it?

Just remember this...
My decisions made were not out of view!
And yours? Were they hidden?
With hopes to have time later erase...
A masking done with a covering of pretensions.
Only to excuse when and 'if' discovered,
As 'youthful' mistakes everyone makes?

Lawrence S. Pertillar

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-mask-with-a-covering-of-pretensions/